2 February 2011: A new report from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), titled “Sustainable Development of the World’s Large Marine Ecosystems during Climate Change,” focuses on actions proposed and already underway by high-profile public figures, scientists, and policy experts for reducing climate warming and advancing the sustainable development of marine goods and services.

The report is published with support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the US DOC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), on the occasion of the presentation of the 2010 Göteborg Award for sustainable development.

The opening three chapters are written by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Al Gore and Jane Lubchenco, respectively, and argue for coalitions of industries, governments, and citizens to lead actions promoting sustainable development of world resources and implementing reductions in greenhouse gases.

The remaining chapters describe the effects of accelerated global warming on the fisheries biomass yields of the world’s Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and actions underway in a global movement to restore and sustain LMEs and their multi-trillion dollar annual contribution to the world economy. The actions described include: the financial support to the global effort provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF); the successful application of ecosystem-based assessment and management practices, leading to an investment by the EU of approximately EUR 100 million to support continued assessment and management of the goods and services of the Baltic Sea LME; and the establishment of the world’s first LME Commission for the transboundary management by three countries (Angola, Namibia and South Africa) of the goods and services of the Benguela Current LME, based on integrated ecosystem-based assessment and management practices. [Publication: Sustainable Development of the World’s Large Marine Ecosystems during Climate Change]